Thanks for all reviewing…

Balamb Garden

Slowly she crawled out from where she had been hiding. Her heart thundering in her chest and her pulsed raced in her ears. The entire Garden was suddenly silent, she couldn't hear the pounding footsteps or the ugly voices in the air.

Angelo whimpered quietly in the corner of the room, licking her wounds and hoping that her mistress would come and take care of her.

While the noise brought some form of relief to her heart, it scared her. What if's kept running through her mind. What if they heard her? What if that man came back to finish the job? What if…

Squall's cool and collected voice filtered into her mind, soothing it almost instantly. She knew he wasn't there with her but even pretending was better than cowering like a frightened child.

What if Irvine suddenly came on missions dressed in drag or what if I suddenly start jumping out of closets in a pink fairy costume and granting first year cadet's wishes? Squall's voice had amusement laced throughout as he brushed off one of their arguments about one of his missions.

What I'm trying to say is Rinoa, you can't live your live asking what if. Trust me, you'll be very lonely, the last statement was filled with sadness and knowledge.

He's right…I'm the sorceress after all. I can't be afraid. The Garden needs me, the young sorceress pushed off the dead girl, her body feeling instantly lighter.

Angelo stayed low, wiggling her way over to the young woman. She gave out little growls and lovingly licked Rinoa's hand as soon as she got close enough.

Rinoa rubbed Angelo behind her ears, hoping to silence her. The entire room felt a lot bigger than it was, she couldn't bring herself to look at the young girl who had saved her life.

Slowly, she stood up, taking each step towards the door with caution. The door was slightly ajar so she peeked out. Blood covered the walls, dead students littered the floor.

The smell reached her nose and it made her want to gag. No matter how many battles she had been in or how many monsters she had slain, she would never get used to the smell of death.

She opened the door further and slid out, Angelo following suit. The air was cold and her bare feet stuck to the carpeted floor. That in itself made her soul cringe, the sound just made her sick to her stomach as she took each step.

"Irvine?" she whispered, "Anyone?"

Two huge eyes encased by long dirty hair peered at her through a crack in a doorway, little sniffles emerging. The owner of the eyes to afraid to speak up just in case it was a trick by the people who had hurt her sister.

Rinoa felt Angelo brush against her bare thigh and wished she had the common sense to put some decent clothes on. Again, Squall entered her thoughts, smiling a little as she tried to remember the answer.

Sometimes Squall could sound like any other guy on the planet, he could be sexist and incredibly sexy at the same time. She banished all thoughts of him out of her mind, it would not help her if she was caught day dreaming about her missing boyfriend.

"Anyone?" the sorceress called out, "Please? It's me…Rinoa."

She could just hear Squall slapping his forehead with his hand and muttering something about her not following SeeD rules but she didn't care. She was always doing something not right.

"Winoa?" a little shy voice whispered, "that weally you?"

"Lucy? Is that you?" Rinoa closed her eyes, letting out a shaky smile.

"Uh huh," the little girl remained locked in, her small body pressed tightly to the wall.

Rinoa slowly turned round, trying to pinpoint where her voice was coming from. If there was at least one survivor in this nightmare, there might be others. Her heart began lifting off some of the darkness that had been creeping up on her.

"Where are you?" Rinoa whispered, "Come on, let's go and find everyone else."

Lucy shook her head, "No…they're all dead. Everyone is dead."

"Not everyone," a male voice responded.

"Irvine!" Rinoa called out, forgetting that she should be whispering and that the slaughterer's of the garden were still lurking nearby.

"Reporting for duty," came the shaky response.

Lucy slowly edged out of the room, a little more confident at the fact that her impromptu babysitters were two of the six that had saved the planet. She had heard all the tales from her big sister.

All the words were all big and important, her sister would get all nervous whenever Squall or Irvine walked by. Make herself nice whenever she had classes with them.

"Iwvine…" Lucy held her teddy bear tightly in her small hand, her small form drowned by her sister's SeeD coat.

Irvine appeared from down the corridor, still dressed in his pyjamas but holding his shotgun like a cuddly toy. His normally cheeky grin replaced with a grim and tired sadness.

"Ladies," Irvine's voice had the same tiredness, "We all okay?"

Any responses were cut short as the trio heard shouts from somewhere near. Irvine automatically froze but the small scared sniffs from Lucy brought him out of his fear. Rinoa dropped to the ground, gripping her necklace tightly.

"Find the main power source and put this there."

Irvine and Rinoa both recognized the voice. What the hell was he doing back in the Garden? Irvine quietly crept up to the two females, hoping that the voice named Spike was going to take a wander down this particular corridor.

He dragged Reeve down the corridor, ignoring any type of whimpers the man made. Pushing down the rising disgust he had growing for himself, justifying the action.

Reeve closed his eyes, praying that Cloud would just slit his throat and be done with it. To stop parading him like some form of warning to the others about betrayal.

Blood seeped from every one of the cuts that Cloud had inflicted on him, every jerk given to him opening partially healing ones. Pain flashed through every pore.

"This wouldn't of happened had you had the intelligence to do as you're told," Cloud spat, "But no…you had to think!"

The dark haired man refused to answer, knowing that if he did, Cloud would shut him up with a sharp kick. At least Cid and the young teen had been given a good head start. At least he had managed to help them.

Reeve blinked groggily, watching with a morbid fascination the trail of blood he was leaving. His dark eyes threatening to close as he felt Cloud tug painfully at his swollen shoulder.

Bodies of dead children littered the grounds, their blood mingling with the trail he was currently leaving.

Didn't think this was where I was going to die…Reeve blinked back tears, Mind you, I never thought that I would die at the hands of Cloud and in a place full of kids either…

"Reeve?" Cloud had stopped dragging him, "Reeve?"

Roughly, the dark haired gentleman felt his chin being raised. The movement sending pain signals all the way down his spine, Cloud's fingers digging into tender skin.

"You're probably wondering as to why I haven't killed you yet huh?" amusement was laced throughout the voice, "Well, I'll tell you why. I'll let you die here, you get to die by…wait for it, by one big ass explosion. Doesn't that sound cool?"

Reeve rolled his eyes, his cheeks to painful to even attempt a smile or even an answer. He simply managed a weak nod and a snort.

Cloud surprised Reeve by gently lifting him up, this made the slender frown in confusion until he heard something click behind him and something tight around his chest.

He followed Cloud's blue eyes down to his chest, his heart thundering. His mind thinking the worst, like Cloud had strapped a bomb to his chest but he hadn't. He'd been strapped to a pillar.

"Kinky…" Reeve breathed painfully.

That brought a once familiar smile to Cloud's lips, a soft friendly smile. One that held his true nature but it was replaced with the cold, sick predator one that he now favoured.

"You know…" Reeve kept his head high, wanting the strength to say this to his now psychotic friend, "I have to tell you something. It's…it's important."

Cloud raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What?"

"I forgive ya…" Reeve laughed, laughed harder than he had done in years.

The statement caught Cloud off guard, his blue eyes blinking in confusion. What was Reeve saying? He forgave him? Cloud shook his head, trying to clear it of the words.

Ah…so you are still in there. At least somewhere, buried underneath that bastard you've created, Reeve took some pride in that, enjoying the look on the normally cold Cloud.

Cloud's face hardened back to the cold look of hatred that he had worn for the past few centuries, he drew his fist back and struck Reeve. Taking no pride as his friend's head bounced off the pillar with a sick thud.

**********

Deling City

Vincent rubbed his eyes tiredly with his good hand, feeling his true age yet again. His normally sharp eyesight being blurred with tired tears.

He rested his weary head on his forearm, closing his eyes as he listened to the tired breaths of his two captives. The Death Penalty sat unloaded at his feet, it's silver bullets hidden where the teens couldn't get at.

Can't even afford to get a few hours sleep, he thought, who knows when one of Cloud's lackeys will show up…

Soft chime bells made him jerk up, the room spinning round for a few seconds. His eyesight quickly clearing. He gazed over to the wall clock and was surprised to find that over two hours had passed by.

A small part of him actually thought that Quistis and Squall had made their escape while he slept. The room incredibly quiet and peaceful.

He turned round fully to see the pair still sleeping, Squall slumped into the chair and Quistis curled up on the bed. The sleep spell obviously too powerful for the teens to cope with.

They could be faking it, a age old familiar voice piped up, I mean, they are SeeD's most elite.

True…Vincent replied, but they would of made their escape while I was sleeping.

……I really hate when I see things your way…, the voice pouted.

Vincent smiled inwardly, Chaos retreated back to it's haven. Muttering about how one day, it would best the human.

Vincent stood up and headed towards the window, loathing the view he was granted with. Deling was always dark, no matter what time of the day it was. It reminded him to much of Midgar, a city that never sleeps.

A small movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention, frowning he leaned closer to the window. His breath making the window misty. Slowly he pulled back, his pulse quickening slightly.

It was one of Cloud's spies, so despite of all the precautions he had taken, the trio had been found. How long would it be before the spy got dangerous and stupid?

Quickly he turned to wake the sleeping teens, hoping that they would trust him and not do anything stupid. He couldn't carry two slumbering young adults.

A nasty thought crossed his mind, if he left one here, they could get out faster. If he left Squall and took care of Quistis…he dismissed the notion. One would not leave without the other.

Silently, he muttered a waking spell. He knew it would take them a few moments, Quistis being the first to wake. Her blue eyes hazy and blinking tiredly.

"Wha…" she mumbled, she cleared her throat, "What's going on?"

"We have to leave now," Vincent offered her as he elegantly held out his hand to help her off the bed.

Squall's voice sounded stronger but pain filled, his jaw still burning with pain from the slap from earlier. The bruise turning into a purple angry looking beast.

"Why…should we?"

"I'll tell you on our escape," Vincent lifted Squall up from his sitting position, hoping the teen would listen and work with him.

Quistis raised an eyebrow, "You're scared…"

Vincent had never got a chance to explain exactly who he was or even as to what was happening fully, the two teens not believing a word he said about him being one of five being trapped in his form.

"You should be too," he said as he loaded the Death Penalty, "Look, if you come with me, I'll tell you everything. Including who your father is."

Quistis bit her lip, unsure as if she should follow him. Squall stood shakily on his feet, his grey eyes giving her some form of support.

"You could be lying," she whispered.

Vincent's red eyes closed for a brief second, "Why would I do that? Have I actually harmed you in anyway? Done anything not to make you trust me?"

Squall answered, "Well…trust…no. Harmed, well…"

Vincent span round as the door slowly opened, barely having time to raise his weapon. A large ugly looking man barred any way out, a sharp, toothless and evil grin appearing on his face.

"My, if it isn't Vincent Valentine," the man sneered, "with his two new friends. Cloud'll be interested in hearing bout this."

Vincent tightened his grip on his gun, his finger slowly going to the trigger. He should of known better as to take the children to the city. He should of kept them in the north. Taken them to the Shumin Tribe.

"If he hears about this," Vincent smiled back, his finger pulling the trigger.

Quistis screamed in surprise as the gunshot rang throughout the room. Squall jumped slightly, closing his eyes as the man was blasted out of the doorway. A large gaping hole smoking slightly in the middle of his chest.

"We should leave now," Vincent stated causally as he stepped over the dead body. He pulled out his cell phone, his thumb quickly typing in a number, one that he had not done in years.

Quistis looked at the dead body and then back at Vincent. He had pulled that trigger without warning. Without so much as a blink, he had murdered that man.

Squall placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his grey eyes looking for her blue eyes. He could see the surprise and concern in them. The horror not that far either.

This might turn out really bad, he thought, but Vincent's right. He hasn't given us a reason not to trust him.

Vincent's voice broke through the silence between the pair, "I have one other reason for you to come with me."

Quistis looked at the doorway, "What's that?"

"I know how you and your friends die," he whispered.